Philippines Milk Code amendments worth opposing!

There was a breaking news about Milk Code Amendments here in the Philippines that for me as a breastfeeding mother is really worth opposing.

“The consolidated bill on
breastfeeding which is being contested would narrow down the application of the Milk Code only to artificial feeding products for the age group of 0 to 6 months instead of the current 0 to 36 months; lift all restrictions on donations of breast milk substitutes at the time of emergencies; make lactation breaks for breastfeeding mothers in the workplace unpaid; allow distribution of samples of breast milk substitutes in the health care system and allow milk formula companies to conduct and be involved in the promotion, education and production of educational activities and materials related to breastfeeding and infant and young child feeding,” said The Medical City Doctors. (philstar.com: Doctors oppose Milk Code amendments)

The said Milk Code amendments is not yet been approved yet I wonder how could they think of it, seems more favor of substitute milks than pushing breastfeeding capaign for the benefits of both the mother and the infant.

The passing of the Milk Code in 1986 which aims to catch up with international standards in breastfeeding and in protecting the health and development of both mothers and infants along with the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 to provide necessary support services to enable breastfeeding mothers to combine family obligations with work responsibilities were both simple and favorable.

We cannot deny the facts that breastmilk is still the best for our children when it comes to nutrition. Breastfeeding also lessen the risk of breast cancer. And practically, it is free!

And since they already consider the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act which is in favor of the working moms who still wants to ensure optimum health for their child by providing establishment of lactation stations in workplaces,provision of breastfeeding breaks for working breastfeeding mothers and establishment of human milk banks in health institutions, why does it needs to have that kind of consolidated bill?

This simple thought appeals to me and its possible...

Let us say the bill passed.
A simple mother with nothing much to support her child, (whether she decided to work or not), knowing this bill, would might then choose to formula milk her child since the breastfeeding break at work is unpaid, afraid to be restricted having breastmik donation when she needs it and could just rely on samples distribution of breast milk substitutes in the health care system.

This could be a case taking unconsiderably the health benefits of breastfeeding.

It is also sad that this one of the unique features of every MOTHER is little by little replaced by substitutes.